“The plan had always been for Noah to stabilize in Children’s ICU, go home and then come back in two to three months to fix the hole in his heart,” said Haas.

That is not what happened. At five weeks old, Noah had his first open-heart surgery to repair the hole.

“Surgery went well,” said Haas. “He was discharged and went home and we were a family again, (with husband Randy Haas and sister Georgia),” Haas said.

When the home health nurse arrived the following morning, she told Haas, “I need you to call 911,” after checking Noah’s oxygen level.

“It was very traumatic,” Haas said. “Noah hadn’t even been home 24 hours. This started a cycle of going home, then readmittance (to the hospital). I lost track of how many times.”

First it was a blood clot, then two of the pacer wires leading from his heart became infected at different times, then the final pacer wire left a 4-centimeter ‘tunnel wound’ in Noah’s abdomen. Noah had a fifth surgery at 8 months old for a malrotated intestine.

“It was no fault of anybody,” Haas said. “It was just bad luck. It seemed like whatever could go wrong with Noah did.”

Noah had never been a robust eater, so a gastrointestinal tube was put into his stomach for him to come home (as an infant), Haas said. Doctors removed it in December 2017.

The wound never closed and Noah had surgery Feb. 4.

“I knew something wasn’t right,” Haas said. “Noah was lethargic. He wasn’t eating or drinking and the pain medication wasn’t working. I told the doctors and they suggested I wait.”

A week later, Noah couldn’t stand and wasn’t responding to his mother.

“An X-ray showed all the food and drink we had given him (since the surgery) was all leaking into his abdomen,” she said. “A suture didn’t hold and it sent him into shock.”

Noah’s seventh surgery kept him in the hospital 10 days. He responded well to this treatment.

Noah doesn’t remember the trauma from the first eight month of his life, but he does remember this past winter.

“The hardest part was I was always being in bed,” said Noah. “They had a tube in my nose and every time I swallowed it hurt. I spent a couple of days after my first surgery in bed with my dad, then I had to go to the hospital again,

“I didn’t want to go. My belly always hurt. I was scared to take the bandage off my belly.”

Photos featured in the Around Crofton column

Out of school, Noah has been in gymnastics for three years, loves Legos, playing video games and riding his bike. He’s excited to begin learning the violin this year at Four Seasons Elementary School.

Noah wants to grow up to be a “cop or a comedian,” he said.

Noah’s brain is still partly in his spinal column from lack of growth his first 8 months of life. He must take daily medication for a non-working pituitary gland.

“His brain didn’t have anywhere to go,” Haas said. “Luckily he’s not symptomatic. He has no pain or headaches.:

Noah still has a microvalve leak in his heart that is getting larger. He’ll likely need another surgery.

Hopkins blues festival

The Hopkins Blues Festival will be held Saturday, 11 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. at Whites Hall, birthplace of Johns Hopkins. SwampCandy, Ruben Montoya and Bad Influence featuring special guest Mary Shaver and Reggie Wayne Morris will perform. The festival will be followed by Whites Hall’s regular Beer Garden from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring The RagingImmortals unplugged.

Cost is $25. Parking is free. Whites Hall is at 2173 Johns Hopkins Road in Gambrills. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit effort to save and restore Whites Hall.

Chili cook-off

The Fourth Annual Chili Cook-Off at Crofton Farmers Market is Oct. 17, 4:30-7 p.m. Two awards will be given: A judged Cook-Off Champion and People’s Choice Champion. Attendees can make a $5 donation or bring non-perishable food items to benefit the Crofton Christian Caring Council’s Food Pantry to try each chili and submit their ballot for People’s Choice.

Judging will be conducted at 6 p.m. with awards given at 6:45 p.m. Participation is free. Contestants may reserve their spot by registering before Oct. 15 at https://croftonchamber.com/events. The Crofton Farmers Market is held at Crofton Country Club, 1691 Crofton Parkway.

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Jackson Dean Nicholson sang the National Anthem at the Arundel High School game Friday in Gambrills. Thousands of people have seen the video a fan posted on Facebook, and country music stations across the country reposted and commented on it.

Jackson Dean Nicholson sang the National Anthem at the Arundel High School game Friday in Gambrills. Thousands of people have seen the video a fan posted on Facebook, and country music stations across the country reposted and commented on it.

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Jackson Dean Nicholson sang the National Anthem at the Arundel High School game Friday in Gambrills. Thousands of people have seen the video a fan posted on Facebook, and country music stations across the country reposted and commented on it.

Jackson Dean Nicholson sang the National Anthem at the Arundel High School game Friday in Gambrills. Thousands of people have seen the video a fan posted on Facebook, and country music stations across the country reposted and commented on it.

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Midshipman Megan Viohl, from Sevena Park, discusses her assignment as a surface warfare officer after she graduates the Naval Academy.

Midshipman Megan Viohl, from Sevena Park, discusses her assignment as a surface warfare officer after she graduates the Naval Academy.

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Denise Robinson, of Odenton, searches for the grave of William H Whittington, who was the first person from Anne Arundel County to die during World War 1, while training at the Army's Camp McClellan in Alabama.

Denise Robinson, of Odenton, searches for the grave of William H Whittington, who was the first person from Anne Arundel County to die during World War 1, while training at the Army's Camp McClellan in Alabama.

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Larry Lee Thomas, Apostle/Bishop & Senior Pastor at Empowering Believers Church of The Apostolic Faith, speaks about recent acts of racism and how he hopes the community will come together to stop it. He spoke before The United Black Clergy of Anne Arundel County meeting Friday evening at the Mount Zion – Magothy United Methodist Church regarding continuing racist incidents at Chesapeake High School.

Larry Lee Thomas, Apostle/Bishop & Senior Pastor at Empowering Believers Church of The Apostolic Faith, speaks about recent acts of racism and how he hopes the community will come together to stop it. He spoke before The United Black Clergy of Anne Arundel County meeting Friday evening at the Mount Zion – Magothy United Methodist Church regarding continuing racist incidents at Chesapeake High School.